Introduction to Lamentations

C.The vanity of human resources (4:17-20)

D.The vanity of human pride (4:21-22)

V.The Prayer (a Future View; (5:1-22)

A.Jerusalem invokes God’s grace (5:1-18)

B.Jerusalem invokes God’s glory (5:19-22)

Lament for Ur, a Sumerian lament composed after the fall of Ur to the Elamites from the east and the Amorites from the west 2000

The Assyrians sack Babylon. 1240

Samaria, the capital of Israel, captured by the Assyrians 722

Sargon II of Assyria deports 28,000 Israelites and settles them throughout the Assyrian Empire. 722

The Assyrians capture numerous Judean cities—Jerusalem is spared. 701

Ashurbanipal leads the Assyrians to capture and destroy Babylon. 649

Birth of Jeremiah 640?

Jeremiah is called to be a prophet; he warns of an invasion from the north. 626

The Medes destroy Assyrian capital of Asshur. 614

The Babylonians and Medes destroy the Assyrian capital of Nineveh. Babylon has become the largest city in the world with a population of 200,000. 612

Jeremiah’s temple sermon 609

Babylonians defeat Pharaoh Neco of Egypt at Carchemish. The Babylonians hold the balance of power in the region. 605

Babylonian force is exercised in the destruction of the Philistine cities of Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Ekron. 604

Jehoiakim makes a decision to turn from his alliance with Egypt and submit to Nebuchadnezzar. 604

Jehoiakim ignores Jeremiah’s warning and turns back to Egypt for support after Egypt defeats Babylon at Migdol. 601

A reinforced Babylonian army approaches Judah; Jehoiakim dies. 598

Nebuchadnezzar plunders the temple, takes Jehoiachin and the royal family into exile, and Zedekiah becomes king. 597

Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and the temple. 586

Nebuchadnezzar appoints Gedaliah as governor of Judah. 585

Judah’s provincial capital is moved from Jerusalem to Mizpah. 585

Gedaliah is assassinated after only two months by a group of fanatically zealous nationalists under the leadership of Ishmael. 585

Lamentations 585